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“Human-centred AI” and the importance of a user-led autonomous approach with Toyota Research Institute
Avinash Balachandran, Vice President of Toyota Research Institute (TRI), joins us in the Press Lounge at MOVE 2026 to discuss Toyota’s collaborative approach to autonomy, exploring the importance of customer-led research and strategic partnerships in navigating a complex and evolving industry.
‘The future is now’: Fastned COO on Europe’s green transition
“The transition is here — I mean, I often say it, but the future is now, and you’re rather part of now, or you’re not.”
Speaking with us at MOVE 2026, we heard from the brilliant Françoise Poggi, COO of Fastned, who shared her insights on the state of European electrification, overcoming infrastructure bottlenecks, and why the green transition is entirely unstoppable.
Rethinking automotive design: Insights from Toyota Connected Europe’s Art Director
Moses Gunarman, Art Director at Toyota Connected Europe, joins us on the MOVE 2026 sofa to share his vision for the future of automotive design, one where digital interfaces move past frivolous aesthetics to focus entirely on functionality and seamless integration.
Reimagining customer experience as a growth engine with Aymen Ismail of Smart
In the automotive world, customer service has historically meant frustrating dealership upsells, call centres and faulty agents. For Smart, the goal is to flip that narrative entirely, reimagining customer service as a powerful growth engine. We sat down with Aymen Ismail, Customer Services Director at Smart Europe, at MOVE 2026, to discuss how data-driven personalization and proactive tech are turning the entire ownership journey into a vehicle for growth.
Nurturing the mobility innovation of the future with VW Group’s Konnect Innovation Hub
The path to automotive innovation lies in breaking down the walls of corporate isolation. That is the philosophy behind Konnect Innovation Hub, the Volkswagen Group’s scout for cutting-edge tech. We sat down with Managing Director Hemdat Sagi at MOVE 2026 to discuss how external partnerships are accelerating the future of software-defined and sustainable vehicles.
Stellantis partners with Wayve to accelerate hands-free driving ambitions
Stellantis is deepening its investment in the autonomous space through a new partnership with UK autonomous tech provider Wayve. Through this collaboration, Stellantis, whose portfolio includes Jeep, Peugeot and Fiat, aims to bring more advanced hands-free capabilities to future vehicles across several of its brands.
The collaboration will see Wayve’s end-to-end AI Driver software integrated into the STLA AutoDrive platform, Stellantis’ foundational architecture for advanced driver assistance systems.
Tesla’s Fully Self-Driving (Supervised) technology gains regulatory approval in China
After years of regulatory discussion, Tesla has officially introduced its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in China, marking a significant step in the company’s long-running effort to gain a foothold in one of the largest autonomous markets.
The announcement arrives shortly after Elon Musk’s visit to Beijing, where he joined a U.S. business delegation during President Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The MOVEmnt Podcast Episode 3: Jeremy Bird
In Episode 3 of The MOVEmnt Podcast, we sit down with Lyft’s EVP of Global Growth, Jeremy Bird, to explore his vision for a hybrid autonomous network. As autonomy ramps up in the UK and Europe welcomes its first commercial robotaxi deployment in Croatia, our conversation couldn’t come at a more critical time in the industry.
The MOVEmnt Podcast Episode 2: Nancy Skinner
In Episode 2, MOVEmnt’s Eve Stevens sits down with a legend in the world of legislature and public service, Commissioner Nancy Skinner of the California Energy Commission.
With a career spanning several decades and a portfolio of landmark legislation, Skinner reflects on her long and influential career, sharing some of her proudest achievements and her personal connection to sustainability, policy and equitable transportation.
The MOVEmnt Podcast Episode 1: RJ Scaringe
What better way to kick off our 2026 interview series than with the CEO and Founder of Rivian Motors, RJ Scaringe?
Ahead of the launch of Rivian’s first mass-market vehicle, the R2, RJ sat down with MOVEmnt Editor and podcast host Eve Stevens to discuss Rivian’s roadmap for autonomy, their signature zonal architecture, and RJ’s deep-rooted fascination with the automotive world.
Introducing The MOVEmnt Podcast, MOVEmnt’s definitive auto tech podcast
We are launching The MOVEmnt Podcast, the definitive auto tech podcast from the brains behind our digital publication.
The MOVEmnt Podcast gives voice to the brilliant minds leading conversations around electric, autonomous and software-defined mobility, platforming the stories behind the industry’s top movers and shakers.
Stellantis banks on “small, stylish” E-Cars to boost sales in European EV market
Fiat and Jeep owner Stellantis is making a bet on smaller, more compact electric vehicles in a bid to boost sales in Europe’s car market.
The venture, known as E-Car, will begin production in 2028 at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant in Naples, Italy.
Trump administration denies Ford tariff relief despite aluminium supply disruption
It has been over a year since President Trump announced a sweeping suite of country-by-country tariffs on imported foreign goods. After many reversals, walk-backs, and changes of mind, some industries have emerged largely untouched by these unpredictable and, at times, erratic shifts in trade and foreign policy.
For industries that rely on steel, aluminium, or semiconductors—of which automotive is one—the story is different. Owing to Section 232, materials deemed critical to matters of national security are subject to Trump’s high and unwavering tariffs.
A year after “liberation day,” many OEMs are calling for a reappraisal of Trump’s stringent tariffs due to mounting pressure caused by aluminium supply disruptions. Among these is legacy automaker Ford, which, under the leadership of CEO Jim Farley, has been vocal in its opposition to import tariffs.
NHTSA drops investigation into Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” autonomy
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed its investigation into Tesla’s divisive “Actually Smart Summon” feature, an autonomous system that allows vehicles to collect passengers from parking lots or garages remotely using an app.
The feature requires the passenger to select a location within a short radius and claims to be able to navigate out of tight parking spaces or from the other side of a busy car park to collect waiting riders.
Volvo begins testing hydrogen-powered long haul trucks in multipronged decarbonization effort
Volvo Trucks is making headway in its mission to decarbonize the heavy transport segment, beginning on-road testing of its hydrogen combustion engine trucks. Rather than relying on a single solution, the company aims to reduce emissions across its operations through a combination of electrification, green hydrogen technology and other renewable fuels.
Baidu robotaxi malfunction causes disruption on the streets of Wuhan
On Tuesday, disruption was reported on the streets of Wuhan following a malfunction in Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi fleet.
Videos on social media captured the vehicles as they stopped in the middle of lanes of traffic, with passengers trapped inside. Some of the footage appears to show a vehicle involved in a highway collision, although police reports suggest no one was injured during the incident.
Wayve rolls out autonomous robotaxi trails in the UK capital and MOVEmnt is invited
Earlier this month, the MOVE team had the opportunity to test drive one of Wayve’s autonomous vehicles and experience their Level 3 autonomous technology in real time.
Following their landmark $1.5 billion investment round, we caught up with the Wayve team to learn how the UK start-up is positioning itself as a serious contender in London’s robotaxi race.
Will surging oil prices reignite EV demand amid the Iran conflict?
Since war broke out in Iran on 28 February, global oil prices have soared to unprecedented highs. The spike follows disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s busiest shipping channel for crude oil.
As the global conflict unravels and the oil crisis intensifies, analysts are recognising a renewed interest in electric vehicles (EVs) as consumers attempt to shield themselves from the impact of rising energy costs.
Jaguar Land Rover shuts UK plant due to fire at supplier site in Norway
Jaguar Land Rover is once again grappling with disruption, as production at one of its key UK facilities is set to pause following a fire at a supplier site in Norway. The interruption will affect output of its flagship Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles at the Solihull plant, with operations halted until April 8. This latest grievance represents a significant setback for the automaker in a two year period punctuated by disruption.
Uber, Pony.ai and autonomous start-up Verne launch robotaxi trials in Croatia’s capital
As autonomous pilots accelerate across Europe, Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, represents the latest test bed for robotaxi trials, thanks to a partnership between Uber, Pony.ai, and autonomous technology start-up Verne.
The partnership brings together the autonomous driving technology of Chinese robotaxi developer Pony.ai with Verne’s fleet management expertise.
Automakers scale back on “luxury” EV plans as global appetite wanes
Just this week Honda and Sony have announced they are among dozens of companies scaling back plans to develop luxury EVs. The news follows recent walk backs from automotive manufacturers in the luxury segment including Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Honda and Sony’s strategic partnership should have delivered a flagship Afeela EV with a premium price tag of $90,000 but the Japanese groups have changed course, abandoning the model altogether. Honda announced an eye-watering $16bn in EV write downs over the last two years following fluctuations in the global market, forcing the company to rethink its global EV strategy.
General Motors begins testing “hands-free, eyes-off” personal autonomy on public highways
General Motors may have taken a back seat in the robotaxi race after the collapse of autonomous robotaxi venture Cruise back in 2024, but the company is not resting on its self-driving laurels.
Since then, the Detroit automaker has turned its attention to developing autonomy in personal vehicles, announcing yesterday that it would begin testing its hands-free, eyes-off driving system on public highways this week.
Uber partners with Rivian in $1.25bn robotaxi deal, promising 50,000 vehicles by 2031
Uber is forging ahead with its vision for a driverless future through a new partnership with American EV maker Rivian Motors.
The agreement outlines plans for Uber to invest an initial $300mn, potentially rising to $1.25bn by 2031, contingent on Rivian hitting key autonomy milestones. Alongside the investment, Uber intends to purchase up to 50,000 autonomous vehicles, beginning with 10,000 robotaxi-ready versions of Rivian’s upcoming R2 SUV. The remaining 40,000 could follow from 2030.
Einride paves the way for autonomous “smart corridors” in Texas
Founded in 2016, autonomous trucking company Einride is forging ahead with a partnership with the State Highway 130 corridor, a major toll road in Texas. This strategic collaboration aims to build out a smart freight corridor between Austin and San Antonio, operating as a testbed for Einride’s cab-less autonomous freight vehicles.
The project will represent the first time an autonomous truck company has partnered with a toll road operator to deliver this kind of service. Einride’s vision includes plans to build out Texas’ EV infrastructure through the co-development of next-generation rest stops with electric charging facilities and autonomous truck docking infrastructure.
Hyundai and Kia deepen strategic partnership with leading chipmaker NVIDIA
On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Group announced it is accelerating its advancements in the autonomous mobility space by deepening its collaboration with world-leading chipmaker NVIDIA. This partnership represents a wider shift in the industry, as automakers are increasingly turning to the tech world to accelerate the development of autonomous and software-defined vehicles through partnerships with chipmakers, AI firms, and software companies.
Hyundai Motor Group, made up of Hyundai Motor and Kia, has positioned this strengthened partnership as a means to drive forward progress on its Level 4 all-electric robotaxis through its joint self-driving venture, Motional.
The design vs safety dilemma: Why carmakers are embracing buttons over touchscreens
As automakers seek to maximise the sleek, futuristic look of new models, the market has seen a sharp increase in the number of vehicles minimising bulky handles and buttons in favour of digital screens and concealed, automated handles.
Whilst these design features may offer the forward-looking glamour that elevates the in-car experience, concerns over safety have seen automakers retreating back to intuitive design features, including tactile buttons and manual handles.
Elon Musk’s Tesla approved to enter UK energy market amid security concerns
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, could soon have sway over the UK’s private energy sector after its subsidiary, Tesla Energy Ventures, received approval to operate as an electricity supplier in the United Kingdom. The licence, granted by the UK energy regulator, clears the path for the company to enter a market that has faced turbulence in recent years and rising concern among households over an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Industry experts herald 2026 as “pivotal year” for UK autonomy at CAM Innovators’ Day
Industry experts gathered at the IET in London yesterday to discuss the key obstacles and scalable, practical use cases of autonomy within the UK.
The annual CAM Innovators’ Day, hosted by Zenzic, brought together some of the industry experts driving innovation in autonomy and connected mobility. Among those attending were representatives from government, industry leaders, scale-ups and key stakeholder groups, with speakers from Google, Waymo and several autonomous startups, including Oxford-based group Oxa.
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